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A. H. JAOOT. MUSICAL BOX.

No. 585,578. Patented June 29,1897.

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A. H. JAGOT.

MUSICAL BOX.

No. 585.578. Patented June 29 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARISTIDES I-ITJACOT, OF STAPLETON, NE\V YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERMOD FRERES, OF ST. CROIX, SXVITZERLAND.

MUSICAL BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,578, dated June 29, 1897.

Application filed December 30, 1896. Szrial No. 617,529. (No model.)

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARISTIDES H. JAcoT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stapleton, in the county of Richmond and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to improvements in musical boxes; and it consists, primarily, in providing a means for holding the note sheet or disk in the proper plane or operative position.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective means whereby-the note sheets or disks may be readily interchanged in a music-box, the said means being manually controlled and adapted to hold said note sheets or disks in the proper operative plane or position with respect to the playin g mechanism.

My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a 1n usical boX illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line w 00, Fig. 1, showing the relative positions of the holding device. Fig. 3 is a relatively enlarged view of a detail of my invention, partly in section; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Similar letters refer to similar parts.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention as applied to a musical box in which a revolving note-disk is utilized, although it is obvious that with a slight modification, such as hereinafter referred to, the same is entirely applicable to musical instruments in which longitudinally-movable note-sheets are used.

A is a base-plate supporting the mechanical parts of a musical box, such as, for instance, the driving mechanism 13 for imparting rotative movement to the note-disk D,

E is a post mounted on the frame A and providing a pivotal center for the disk D.

F is a musical comb, the teeth of which in the construction illustrated project into the path of teeth on a spur-wheel G. These spur-wheels are arranged in a series and are suitably mounted in a support G, the said teeth on the spur-wheels being by preference adapted to project slightly above the upper surface of the support G, as shown in Figs. land 2, so as to be operated by the notedisk, which may be of any well-known construction. 4

In operation the note-disk D must be held down in a proper plane to operate the spur- Wheels G or such other well-known means as may be provided to vibrate the teeth of the musical comb F.

My invention resides, primarily, in providing an effective means for holding the notedisk in the operative plane. H II are supports mounted substantially in line with the series of spur-wheels G, which are arranged radially with respect to the disk. These supports H pivotally support toward their upper ends'a shaft I, said shaft being located on the side of the disk opposite the musical comb F and substantially diametric with respect to the note-disk D.

J is a plate projecting laterally from said shaft I and eccentric withrespect to the axis of rotation of said shaft. Toward the lower edge of the eccentric plate J are carried revoluble rolls K K.

The relative positions of the parts thus described are such that when the shaft 1 is in the position indicated in Fig. 1 the rolls K K, carried by the plate J, are in engagement with the upper surface of the disk D, holding it down into the proper plane for operating the teeth of the musical comb F; and when in the position indicated in Fig. 2 (in solid lines) the said eccentric plate J is raised sufficiently high to permit the withdrawal of the disk D and to enable another one to be iiiserted, if desired.

L is a handle preferably secured to the shaft I and by which the same may be rotated. This handle may, if desired, be pivotally connected, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, so that when the device is in the operative position the handle may be turned down out of the way, as shown in Fig. 1.

Any suitable means may be provided to hold the shaft I in either of its relative positions, the means illustrated comprising spring-arms M, the free ends of which bear against the surface of the shaft 1, which may be provided with suitable notches N N, into which the said free ends may drop, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thus frictionally holding the rod I.

In Fig. 1 the eccentric plate J is shown as extending only partially the length of the rev oluble shaft I. Manifestly, however, the said plate may extend the entire length of the said shaft, as might be desirable providing a notesheet were utilized in place of the disk, in which event the number of the spur-wheels and the teeth on the musical comb might be increased to extend substantially the width of the note-sheet. here the note-sheet is used, the pivotal center E may be dispensed with.

The driving mechanism shown comprises substantially aspur-wheel B, mounted upon a shaft 13, which may be revolved manually or by any suitable clockwork mechanism. This spur-wheel B by preference engages the outer edge or periphery of the sheet or disk, respectively, and it will be seen that the eccentric bearing-plate J when in the operative position holds the plate not only in the proper plane to operate the playing mechanism, but also in the proper plane to engage the said spur-wheel 13.

Some changes of construction may be desirable, and I therefore do not limit myself to the specific form and arrangement of parts herein shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes as are fairly within the spirit and scope of my invention.

hat I claim is- 1. In a musical instrument, playing devices, means for non-yieldingly holding note sheets or disks in the proper plane to contact with, and operate said playing devices, said means comprising a rotatable shaft above said playing devices, an eccentric bearingplate carried by said shaft, a means for holding said plate when in operation, in a substantially vertical position.

2. In a musical instrument, playing devices, means for non-yieldingl y holding note sheets or disks in the proper plane to contact with, and operate said playing devices, said means comprising a rotatable shaft above said playing devices, an eccentric bearingplate carried by said shaft, a means for holding said plate when in operation, in a substantially vertical position, and rollers carried at the edge of said eccentric plate opposite the shaft.

ARTSTIDES ll. JACOT.

Witnesses:

R. (l. MITCHELL, JAs. S. OswALn. 

